Discretely, almost silently, something is happening which will have serious consequences for the future of the international Anarchist movement: the reorganization of anarcho-syndicalism on a global scope, at the initiative of the CNT. Following the agreements of its XI Congress in 2015, the CNT – together with the German FAU and the Italian USI – has organized an international conference of anarcho-syndicalist and revolutionary unions (November 26-27, Bilbao). To understand the goals of this conference, we have interviewed people from the working group of the CNT’s International Secretary, in a conversation which aims to go to the root of the question, without dogmatism or mythology.
Beyond the IWA: An Interview with the CNT’s International Secretary
The First Congress of the National Confederation of Labor (CNT) (Barcelona, September 8-10, 1911)
The Agenda and texts of the Reports presented to the assembly of delegates representing approximately 27,000 workers at the First (official) Congress of the National Confederation of Labor, held in Barcelona in 1911, providing a glimpse of the doctrinal spectrum represented by the founders of the CNT and the most urgent concerns of the membership of the new organization, including the “rights and duties” of disabled members of the CNT, the creation of rationalist schools, the formation of itinerant propaganda squads, and the need for a daily newspaper.
Morin, Emilienne Leontine (1901-1991) aka Mimi aka Mimi-FAI
A short biography of Emilienne Morin, active in France and Spain, companera of Buenaventura Durruti
Orobón Fernández and the Workers Alliance – Ramón Álvarez Palomo
A short biography of Valeriano Orobón Fernández, widely regarded as one of the great figures of Spanish anarchosyndicalism, emphasizing his role as an advocate of the Workers Alliance in the early 1930s, written by a former leader of the Asturian CNT.
The brief summer of anarchy: the life and death of Durruti - Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Hans Magnus Enzensberger’s non-fiction “adventure novel” about Buenaventura Durruti and the Spanish anarchist movement (ca. 1917-1937), first published in Germany in 1972, consisting of a more or less chronological “collage” of “translated, abridged and rearranged” excerpts from “reports and speeches, interviews and proclamations … letters, travel narratives, anecdotes, pamphlets, polemics, newspaper articles, autobiographical texts, flyers and propaganda leaflets” (including extensive selections from the eyewitness accounts of Simone Weil, Ilya Ehrenburg, H. E. Kaminski, Mikhail Koltsov, Ricardo Sanz and Jesús Arnal Pena), punctuated by the author’s “Commentaries”.
Iturbe, Lola aka Kyra Kyralina aka Kiralina (1902-1990)
A short biography of the Spanish anarchist Lola Iturbe, fighter for women's liberation
A journey into libertarian historical memory; Casas Viejas, January 1933
A short history of the tragically unsuccessful uprising of anarchist peasants in the small town of Casas Viejas which ended in a brutal massacre of the participants by the Republican government.
Problems of syndicalism and anarchism – Juan Peiró
A pamphlet first published in 1930 composed of a series of articles by Juan Peiró—anarchist glass worker, twice National Secretary of the CNT, “Treintista”, Minister of Industry under Caballero, executed by the Franco regime in 1942—arguing for a dual strategy for anarchism and syndicalism, in which syndicalism pursues the “political” goals of anarchism (resistance, general strike, expropriation, meeting the needs of the population immediately after the revolution), while anarchism serves as a guide for syndicalism and works for the “social”, or truly constructive goals of the revolution that are not class-based but “human” (the “Commune”, generalized liberty and cultural progress).
Emancipation Vol. 9, Issue 5, Number 69 (December 1986)
The Vol. 9, Issue 5, Number 69 (December 1986) issue of Emancipation a publication produced by the Anarchist Association of the Americas during the 1980s.
Political persecution in republican Spain
Short article by Emma Goldman giving an overview of Stalinist persecution of revolutionary antifascists during the Spanish civil war.
The Catalan CNT and the Asturias uprising
Article responding to criticisms of the anarchist CNT union in Catalonia during the Asturias uprising of 1934. In particular it looks at how the CNT was being repressed by Catalan authorities at the time.
Manuel Escorza del Val (1912-1968). A biographical note – Agustín Guillamón
A brief biographical sketch of the remarkable life of Manuel Escorza del Val (1912-1968), who, disabled by polio when he was a child, but possessing a formidable intellect and an indomitable will, was an active member of the Libertarian Youth and the Peninsular Committee of the FAI, and then the chief of domestic intelligence for the CNT-FAI during the Spanish Civil War—a ruthless persecutor of fascists, priests and “incontrolados”, and “the most powerful figure in the CNT” in April-May 1937 when he played a decisive role in the outbreak of the May Events—and, after the war, he emigrated to Chile, where he wrote literary and cultural review articles for local newspapers.
Female combatants in the Spanish civil war: milicianas on the front lines and in the rearguard
An overview of women fighters in the anti-fascist militias during the Spanish civil war 1936-7, written by Lisa Lines in 2009.
Masera, Pedro (1877- 1938)
A short biography o the Spanish anarchist miner Pedro Masera, murdered by the Francoists in 1938
Lessons of the Spanish Revolution - Vernon Richards
A critical account and assessment of the Spanish civil war and revolution, particularly focusing on the successes and failures of the anarchist organisations, written by Vernon Richards.
The Echo of the Crutches: An Essay on Manuel Escorza del Val – Víctor Malavez
The first installment of a planned series of articles on Manuel Escorza del Val and the espionage and counterespionage agency he directed during the Spanish Civil War (the Investigation and Intelligence Commission of the CNT-FAI), with discussions of the espionage agencies of the Nationalists, the Catalonian government, the Republican parties, the Communists, as well as other anarchist and anarchosyndicalist special operations groups, including the German anarchosyndicalist exiles (DAS), focused for the most part on their activities in Catalonia and on the French border.
10-Point Program of the Catalan CNT
Twice in the last year, the anarcho-syndicalist CNT of Spain has led general strikes which had a massive following, despite the abstention or active sabotage of the business unions. With the deepening crisis in Catalonia, and the CNT's growing legitimacy, they have put forward a program to mobilize and unify action.
Independent unions found new Global Union Federation
In May 2018 the “International Confederation of Labour” was founded in Italy to unite independent unions and worker organisations across frontiers. We interviewed delegates at the congress to hear about their union activities at home and what they hope will come out of the new confederation.
CNT Catalunya leaflet from the Barcelona peace rally of August 26, 2017
A leaflet distributed by the Catalan CNT at the Barcelona anti-terrorism rally of August 26, 2017 and the concurrent protests against the visit of King Felipe VI.
Comunicat de CNT Catalunya arrel del atemptat a Barcelona de Agost de 2017
A leaflet distributed by the Catalan CNT at the Barcelona anti-terrorism rally of August 26, 2017 and the concurrent protests against the visit of King Felipe VI.